Will he, won't he?

Last week Ian Holloway praised Barker's attitude, saying 'He was fantastic in training, he is a fantastic lad - and you don't get them cheap and you don't get them easy. The club have worked with him over the last few years to make him what he is now and he knows that. There is a great respect between me and between him, and him for the club as well.'

He added, 'Somewhere along the line, we are all going to benefit. I don't need to be assured that Shaun's happy. He has signed a contract and put very, very simply, he belongs to us.'

However, with Holloway also revealing that Blackpool have confirmed exactly how much they will accept for Barker, it is believed that Derby County are about to make an increased offer for the 26 year old, having had a bid of £400,000 rising to £500,000 rejected. And with Nottingham Forest also wanting to sign him, the bidding war may well continue this week.

Blackpool are believed to be willing to accept somewhere between £750,000 and £1m.